Monday Morning Update

October 26, 2015

From Knowing to Doing: As part of her semester abroad researching human rights issues, Molly Hellman’16 recently visited the largest refugee camp in the Middle East, Zaatari, a sprawling informal city in Jordan that is home to more than 80,000 Syrians, half of them children, displaced by war. Hellman’s research is focused on stigmatization and abuse of displaced young people. Before visiting Jordan, she conducted similar research in Nepal and, later this semester, her studies will take her to Chile. A sociology and interdisciplinary major, she says that, at Stonehill, she has learned the importance of shifting from knowing to doing. For more, visit here.

Bugs Matter?: In conjunction with World Edible Insect Day on Friday, the College hosted a presentation on the potential that bugs have for helping humanity with nutritious, sustainable food. The event, which included an insect cooking contest, addressed the challenge that so many consumers in the US and elsewhere in the developed world find insect eating unappealing. For more, visit here.

Paying It Forward: Injured in the Boston Marathon bombing, Heather Abbot ’96 had her left leg amputated below the knee. Appreciating the support she and other survivors received, Abbot created a foundation in 2014 to provide prostheses to people with limb loss. Earlier this month, the Heather Abbot Foundation presented its first prosthetic leg to an amputee. Congratulations to Heather, who wowed folks when she spoke on campus at the President’s Dinner in May, on how her foundation is now helping others. Read about it here.

Little and Large: When Madison McGlone ’18 tells people she attends Stonehill, she gets asked, where’s that? A sociology & communication double major from Long Island, McGlone understands smaller colleges often fly under the radar but the attraction of larger schools mystifies her. She has 11 wise and witty reasons why small colleges trump larger ones. As she writes, With large universities' massive class sizes, odds are professors won't even notice who's in class or not. It's hard not to tell when someone's missing from my eight-person Italian class. However, this is how students have gotten so close to their professors, and made amazing connections through such invaluable mentors. To read the 11 reasons from her Odyssey essay, visit here.

Icelandic Adventure: With Biology Professor Maura Tyrell as the faculty guide, the Alumni Travel Program recently took 37 alumni, family and friends to Iceland. Based in Reykjavik for five days, the group explored the country’s cinematic landscapes, volcanos, geysers and glaciers as well as its Viking heritage and vibrant modern culture. For more, read the travel journal and to see photos, visit here.

Did You Know?: Thanks to recent energy management initiatives and upgrades in the Roche Dining Commons, Stanger Hall, the Martin Institute, and Cushing-Martin, the College has reduced energy usage, improved sustainability and produced annual savings of $168,000.

Alumni Magazine: Last week, thanks to the assistance of our colleagues in the Mail Room and in Facilities, we shared the latest Stonehill Alumni Magazine with the College community. If you did not receive a copy and would like one, email mmcgovern@stonehill.edu. Or, you may visit the new online edition here.

Don’t Forget #1: Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental in the Martin Institute tomorrow night at 7 p.m. explaining what prompted him to seek reconciliation with one of his concentration camp guards. Rebuffed by the SS guard, Reichental did not search in vain as he met adult children and grandchildren of Holocaust perpetrators who embraced his quest for reconciliation. For more, visit here.